Social Work, MSW

Graduate Program
Graduate Program
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Overview
Admission
Curriculum
Tuition and Fees
Overview
Shape a career dedicated to meaningful change with our Master of Social Work (MSW) program.

Whether you’re looking to enter the field for the first time or are a seasoned BSW professional seeking advanced practice skills, our advanced generalist program integrates direct practice and macro skills, providing the flexible, rigorous training needed for high-level licensure and ethical practice. With a focus on evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches, you will graduate equipped to address complex challenges across diverse populations and systems.

Admission

Program Start Dates

  • Traditional MSW – Starts in Fall semester
  • Advanced Standing MSW – Starts in Summer (beginning summer of 2028)

Application Deadlines

  • International Students: January 15, 2027
  • Priority Deadline & Deadline for Scholarship Consideration: February 15, 2027

To be considered for admission into the MSW program, you must submit the following materials:

  • Completed application.
  • Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, sent directly from the institution; electronic transcripts are preferred.
  • Students submit 3 letters of recommendation (professional or academic). If you completed your undergraduate coursework within the last three years, at least one should be an academic reference. Letters of recommendation should be from individuals who can assess your academic abilities, interpersonal skills, and potential for success in social work graduate education and social work practice.
     

You are considered for admission into the program once all application materials have been received.

Traditional MSW Applicants

  • Undergraduate degree in any major
  • Undergrad GPA of 3.0 or greater (those with lower GPAs will be considered, please complete the Petition Form)
  • Applicants must have college-level credit with a grade of “C” or better in the following areas before starting the program:
    • One 3-credit course in statistics
    • Two 3-credit courses in any of the following areas: sociology, psychology, history, human biology, political science, or economics

Advanced Standing MSW Applicants

  • CSWE-accredited baccalaureate social work degree, CASWE-accredited baccalaureate social work degree, or ISWDRES-evaluated degree comparable to a baccalaureate social work degree less than seven years old prior to the date of application.
  • Undergrad GPA of 3.0 or greater (those with lower GPAs will be considered, please complete the Petition Form)
  • Received a “B” or better or “Pass” in senior practicum/field placement. Include most recent practicum/field evaluation signed by instructor.

Admission criteria

  • Transcripts, Three letters of Reference, Resume, Professional Statement, Social Service-Related Experience (Traditional MSW) or Practicum/Field evaluation (Advanced Standing)
  • If a student does not qualify for advanced standing status, the MSW program director will review their transcript to see if any of their undergraduate coursework can be waived. Courses that could meet this waiver eligibility includes courses where they received a grade of B or better in a comparable course within the last 7 years.

Transfer Students

Transfer students from other accredited MSW programs must submit the standard application materials for MSW applicants. We will accept up to 9 generalist credit hours for Traditional MSW applicants and up to 6 credits for Advanced Standing MSW applicants if student earned a “B” or better in the course, was taken within the last seven years and is substantively similar to a Xavier MSW course. Additionally, please submit: Course syllabi for all graduate social work courses they wish to transfer and MSW practicum/field evaluation if relevant.

 

Curriculum

Beyond your core social work classes, you will select three elective courses from Counseling, Theology and Health Services Administration. This unique structure allows you to customize your education to fit your desired career path.

Please note: The Xavier University MSW program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.

Year 1: Fall Semester

  • SOCW501: Introduction to the Social Work Profession
  • SOCW 505: Human Behavior and the Social Environment
  • SOCW520: Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups
  • SOCW560: Generalist Practicum and Seminar I

Year 1: Spring Semester

  • SOCW 510: Research Methods for Evidence-Based Social Work Practice
  • SOCW515: Social Welfare Policy and Analysis
  • SOCW525: Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities
  • SOCW565: Generalist Practicum and Seminar II

Summer Semester

  • SOCW 600: Advanced Assessment and Diagnosis
  • SOCW 605: Advanced Human Behavior in the Social Environment
  • Elective

Year 2: Fall Semester

  • SOCW615: Advanced Social Welfare Policy Action
  • SOCW620: Advanced Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups
  • SOCW660: Advanced Practicum and Seminar I
  • Elective

Year 2: Spring Semester

  • SOCW 610: Advanced Research Methods in Social Work Practice Evaluation
  • SOCW625: Advanced Practice with Organizations and Communities
  • SOCW665: Advanced Practicum and Seminar II
  • Elective

Summer Semester

  • SOCW 600: Advanced Assessment and Diagnosis
  • SOCW 605: Advanced Human Behavior in the Social Environment
  • Elective

Year 2: Fall Semester

  • SOCW615: Advanced Social Welfare Policy Action
  • SOCW620: Advanced Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups
  • SOCW660: Advanced Practicum and Seminar I
  • Elective

Year 2: Spring Semester

  • SOCW 610: Advanced Research Methods in Social Work Practice Evaluation
  • SOCW625: Advanced Practice with Organizations and Communities
  • SOCW665: Advanced Practicum and Seminar II
  • Elective

Tuition and Fees
2027–28 tuition amounts for the MSW program have not been announced. To review current tuition rates and fees for programs in the College of Health and Human Sciences, visit the Graduate Tuition and Fees page.
33
Credit Hours, Advanced Standing MSW
57
Credit Hours, Traditional MSW
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Why Xavier's MSW program?

A Flexible, Hybrid MSW Program

Earn your MSW on your schedule with flexible coursework, combining online and in-person courses. You will attend campus-based courses one late afternoon/evening per week for live, face-to-face learning.

Advanced Standing and Traditional MSW Pathways

Recent BSW graduates (within last 7 years) may be eligible for the advanced standing program, while those with other undergraduate degrees can apply for the traditional MSW.

Expert Mentorship for Future MSWs

Engage directly with expert faculty who translate their active, real-world social work practice into a powerful and supportive learning environment.

Social Work Faculty
An MSW Program Rooted in Jesuit Values

Experience an education rooted in Cura Personalis (care for the whole person) and a commitment to changing the world for the better.

Jesuit Education
Xavier Secures $360K to Fund Ohio Mental Health Grad Students

Scholarship funding will cover up to two years of tuition and fees for eligible graduate students in psychology, counseling and social work.

Read the Story
Loyal Musketeer Scholarship for Xavier Alumni

The Loyal Musketeer Scholarship is available to all Xavier graduating students and alumni. The scholarship is equal to 25 percent off the program tuition rate for the MSW program.

Loyal Musketeer Scholarship

MSW Program FAQs

Have questions about the MSW program? Find quick answers here. 
The MSW program is offered in a hybrid format that combines online learning with in-person courses. This structure provides flexibility and convenience for students with asynchronous online learning, along with in-person courses which provide the opportunity to build relationships with classmates and professors. Students will be on campus one day (late afternoon/evening) each week, where they will have the opportunity to learn in live classes and engage in rich discussions during in-person courses. The online component allows flexibility, so students can complete learning activities when it is convenient.

Students with an undergraduate degree in social work from an accredited program, can complete the MSW in 12-months. Students who do not hold a BSW/BASW degree, can complete the MSW in less than two years.

Students can attend full-time or part-time.

Xavier University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program is currently in pre-candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).

Pre-candidacy indicates that a program submitted an application to be reviewed for candidacy and received approval of its Benchmark 1 from CSWE accreditation staff to move forward for a candidacy review within 1-year. A program that has attained pre-candidacy status has not yet been reviewed by the BOA nor verified to be compliant with the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).

Students that are admitted to pre-candidate programs in the fall (or later) of the academic year in which the program is granted candidacy status will be retroactively recognized as graduates from a CSWE-BOA accredited program as long as the program attains initial accreditation. Candidacy is typically a 3-year process and attaining pre-candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain candidacy and initial accreditation.

Review our program’s pre-candidacy status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. For more information about social work accreditation, email CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation at accreditation@cswe.org.

Social Work, MSW Program at Xavier University

The Xavier University MSW program is currently in pre-candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). Pre-candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the BOA indicates that it submitted an application to be reviewed for candidacy and received approval of its Benchmark 1 from CSWE accreditation staff to move forward for a candidacy review within 1-year. A program that has attained pre-candidacy status has not yet been reviewed by the BOA nor verified to be compliant with the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Students that are admitted to pre-candidate programs in the fall (or later) of the academic year in which the program is granted candidacy status will be retroactively recognized as graduates from a CSWE-BOA accredited program as long as the program attains initial accreditation. Candidacy is typically a 3-year process and attaining pre-candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain candidacy and initial accreditation. Pre-candidacy applies to all program options, which includes locations and delivery methods. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program. Review our program’s pre-candidacy status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation.

Xavier University's College of Health and Human Sciences prepares undergraduate and graduate students intellectually, morally and spiritually for careers and professions of service. CHHS challenges students to strive for academic excellence and life-long learning through promoting collaboration and community partnerships, and incorporating research, scholarship and innovation.

Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."